Panda Bear - Slow MotionPanda Bear - Surfer's Hymn: It took me a few listens to really get my groove in, but the new LP Tomboy is actually really kind of fun. I enjoyed the first album, but was really mostly bored by it. Then resentful of it. But this one is less about imitation "Brian Wilson trapped in a reverb coil". It's more "Animal Collective trapped in a reverb coil". And I suppose that distinction is huge, because it sounds less forced. And more fun.

Silverswans - Secrets (Letting Up Despite Great Faults Remix): FUN.

Skream - Under The City Lights ft Sam Frank: Riding that chilled Hyperdub style, the neuvo funk glistens off vox which appear to be BOTH talk-boxed and vocoded.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Hey there all, time for me to get naked and rub live electric cords all over me and cut my hands on jagged metal stolen from construction sites. That's right, it's time to make noise!
A friend and I started a new series in the Ottawa region called Pitch Black where we will be putting on a small noise/experimental show quarterly.
Please like us here to get invited to future events: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pitch-Black/212191142126062

Coma Cinema - Caroline, Please Kill MeComa Cinema - Her Sinking Sun: Lay off the cough syrup, kids! From the 2011 album Blue Suicide, these are the two strongest tracks, for me.

Demdike Stare - Regolith: The new 3 CD sets Tryptych is impressive in its scope and sonic diversity. Lots of dark ambient, pulsing minimal dub techno and wonderful atmospheres. But it doesn't quite congeal in to an incredible whole of an album. Still, definitely check it out if you want to relive last decades washed out minimal techno grooves, love the production majesty of Mick Harris, or really want to just fuck shit up with your friends that are too high to get off the floor and change the music themselves. Definitely buy it, even if just to sift through for the 7 or 8 tracks you are bound to love.

Gold Panda - Marriage: From the new Marriage EP, no remixes out ther quite touched the majesty of the original. Epic electro idm!

Jessica Lea Mayfield - Our Hearts Are WrongJessica Lea Mayfield - Run Myself Into The Ground: The new LP is "Tell Me" and it's dreamy country pop folk that fills that gap that Cat Power's absence has left. Highly recommended.

RxRy - ElipsisRxRy - Elusive: ANOTHER HOT ALBUM ALERT! This is my favourite electronic release of the year so far. Made with "AM Radio and MIDI", oh so many of the right buttons are hit and it's an immensely pleasurable experience. "A (ALPHA)" has many tracks, but it still clocks in at under 30 minutes. Songs are like short suites, with a new track for each section. It's novel, it's slick, and it works. Highly recommended.

The Migrant - In the Sun: Is this Beirut? No? Oh, OK. Are you sure? Yeah? OK, well then. Someone get this kid a mariachi band then, cuz he's good. From last year's album "Travels in Lowland".

These New Puritans - We Want War: These New Puritans are what happens when you let indie rockers in to a dubstepers evil studio.

They Might Be Giants - Can't Keep Johnny Down: New TMBG out soon! I can't wait. And sure, it's not as good as their 20th century stuff, but fuck it, it's my guilty please, and I can coat my body in whatever I want! Wait, what were we talking about?

Blue Hawaii - Blue Gowns: A vocal styling with a delicous nod to the Dirty Projectors, from the LP "Blooming Summer"

Carissa's Wierd - Die: Just basically quality pop rock duo fun.

Does It Offend You, Yeah - Pull Out My Insides: The brand spanking new album is "Don't Say We Didn't Warn You" and well, I'm not really in to it, but that was kind of the expectation going in. Hold the nose, dive down, find the one or two awesome singles, and get out. And here we are.

Elbow - Lippy KidsElbow - Open Arms: FUCKING AWESOME. If you like last year's album by The National, or this year's Parts & Labor, or Elbow's past releases, really or any of that stuff, this will slot perfectly in to that part of your dopamine-producing brain parts and just make happy squirts all of the place. The kind of pensive melancholia where you really really enjoy your stay. "Build a Rocket Boys!" is the name and this one is HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Jogger - Biss: Big up to a blog reader who posted this on the mp3 blog facebook wall. 2009's This Great Pressure has a number of great tracks that mix that IDM studio sensibility with a full dark rock ensemble pop feel. A few gems to be found within. Dig back to blog20100203 where we posted another one of their tracks as well.

Melodica, Melody & Me - Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes (Paul Simon cover): How can I resist adorable covers from Simon's Graceland? Just in time for the 25 year annivesary...

Menomena - Dirty Cartoons: I guess I am on epic indie rock kick these days? This gorgeous piece is from 2010's album Mines.

Mutual Benefit - Desert Island Feeling: ...and back with the affected indie rock! haha, had you there for a second. The whole "desert island feeling" is as potent of a phrase to me as "rainbow connection". From the 2010 album Spider Heaven. Haven't heard it yet, but this tracks is super promising.

Parenthetical Girls - Someone Else's MuseParenthetical Girls - Young Throats: From EPs Privilege parts 1 and 2! You really have to get in to his voice, people! But if you like Chris Garneau or Patrick Wolf, consider them stepping stones to this indulgence.

Radiohead - Little By LittleRadiohead - Morning Mr. Magpie: King Of Limbs is the best thing they've done in a number of year, imho. The influence of the solo projects now sinks back in to band form for a slow burning groove that is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Expect requisite remixes by Burial, Four Tet, Nicolas Jaar and Ricardo Villabos...

Stephan Mathieu - Minuet: Brand new for 2011, A Static Place is an ambient record of precision. 5 tracks, 10 minutes each except for one that is 20. And I mean exactly. So 1 hour of shimmering ambience that a Laraaji fan could totally just slurp up. Heavy reverbed classical instrumentation and good vibes all around. One of the best total ambient records of the year.

Why? - Bezerkley (Amp Live Remix): Amp Live has done some hot pop culture cutups, but the Why? remix album had a few more near-misses than direct hits. This track being a big exception. All of the reasons we adore Amp Live are here, with enough of the best bits that make us swoon for Why? being tossed around with.

Young Galaxy - Cover Your Tracks (Teen Daze Remix): Oh wait, did I mention I am in love with Young Galaxy? I really hope these hot-shit remixes keep coming out, as they add amazing new layers to an already excellent release.

Friday, April 8, 2011

blog 2011/04/08 - digging mass from the depths and letting it run through your fingers

Alain Johannes - Return To You: Oh here is a great way to begin, with some darn near ecstatic folkpop sounding like a joyous Chris Garneau, off his album "Spark". Do I detect a bit of Bowie on his breathe? Oh wait, here comes the scat breakdown!

Big Freedia - Azz Everywhere: I don't know how I've lived so long without NOLA SISSY BOUNCE MUSIC in my life. Fuck yeah. Check this out, and the Sissy Nobby below. Totally banging. Required for every party jam you throw, k?

Burial - Street Halo: Burial is back with a new full length for 2011, and here's the first single out. It isn't much of a revelation beyond his earlier work, but it has a definite Four Tet plodding influence that I quite like and will make it easier to stick here there and everywhere.

Crystal Castles - Celestica (Alcala's Ambient Reprise): The CC hard synth pop gets totally washed out, and just the melody sits here like a cloudy haze after a night of too many cuddle puddles by the bass bins. purrrrrrfect.

Diamond Rings - Something Else: From the album "Special Affections", the love for Patrick Wolf is readily apparent and celebrated instead of hidden. But this is also the kind of preening pop that would have been incredibley successful in the 70s. So happy to have that swing back around.

Dirty Gold - California Sunrise: This one is from the Hidden Treasure EP and it oh so dreamy and happy and sweet. Basically, what it says on the tin.

DM Stith - I Heart Wig ft I Heart Lung: Instrumental band drone from the 2009 record Braid of Voices. I have a thing for drone pieces with avant-jazz drumming.

Dressy Bessy - This May Hurt (A Little): ANOTHER throwback, this time from the self-titled 2003 album. I needed a pick me up so I dug out the old Dressy Bessy and oh it made everything better. For fans of that dog. and writing about dating in longhand in a hidden journal.

Glasser - Plane Temp: If all indie girl pop had a stronger Seefeel influence like this, I would not complain. From last year's album Ring.

Parts & Labor - A Thousand RoadsParts & Labor - Rest: The new albums is called Constant Future and it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Like The National LP last year, it is a slow simmer of epic proportions that will just seep in to you on repeated listens.
If you like Elbow, The National, or the last P&L album, but this one for sure.

Tune-Yards - GangstaTune-Yards - My Country: OK OK fine. I won't use the wonky capitalization on her name, but I will include the stupid spaces. The new album is "W H O K I L L".
I only make this concession for one simple reason: THIS ALBUM IS FUCKING AMAZING. SO HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
All of the pop genius of earlier releases is refined and is exploding all over the place. That lovely bedroom chopping aesthetic is a bit more muted, but still present. and wholly shit, those HORNS.
Fuck yes.

Young Galaxy - Queen Drum (Henning Remix): OK I might have a bit of a crush on Young Galaxy. All of the remixes so far have been exceptionally swoon-worthy as well.